Brad Pohlmann: Sandblasted Lars Blowfish with Stellar's Sea Cow Tobacco Pipe

Lars Ivarsson's shaping style has had an undeniable impact on the world of pipemaking as a whole, much like his father's initial pioneering. One of his distinct shapes, the Blowfish, has been revisited by a number of artisans — though Brad Pohlmann's clean, minimalist renditions tend to be some of my favorites. Most definitive of the shape is the teardrop line of the shank, which here has been implemented even into the accent band of natural sea cow bone, flowing through the right flank and melting into the plump lines of an Egg-shaped bowl. The bowl itself, too, presents a shape that feels excellent in hand, its crisp sandblast offering just enough texture and a glimpse at the briar's natural growth rings. Once all of that is combined with a sleek, sinuous S-curve and a warm, understated palette, the result is a shape in which it's difficult to find any fault.

- Rachel DuBose